Gibbs Gardens

Today's garden is a perfect paradise for garden lovers. The Gibbs Gardens are located in northern Georgia, near the mountains in a town called Ball Ground.  These are the residential gardens of designer and founder of the Atlanta based, Gibbs Landscaping Company, Jim Gibbs.  They cover over 220 acres and feature 16 garden venues, including a Japanese Garden, Water Lily Garden, Daffodil Garden, and Manor House Garden.

The gardens were started in 1980, and planted with older trees to give it a look of age and character.  A stream flows through the property.  Thousands of naturalized ferns had been planted around the stream and surrounding springs, making it one of the largest ferneries in the country.  There are also 24 ponds, 32 bridge crossings, and 19 waterfalls.

The gardens are open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Admission is $20.00 for adults and $18.00 for children.

Ave Maria Grotto

Today's post is one of the most unusual gardens I've ever seen.  It's the Ave Maria Grotto located in Cullman, Alabama.  This three acre site contains 125 miniature replicas of churches, shrines and other famous building from around the world.   Known as "Jerusalem in the Miniature," this masterpiece is the creation of Brother Joseph Zoettle, a monk who lived at the St. Bernard Abby.  It began as a hobby in 1933, and evolved into this amazing work of art.  The last piece, the Basilica in Lourdes, was created in 1958 when he was 80 years old.

The Grotto is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Admission is $7.00 for adults and $4.50 for children.

Noccalula Falls Botanical Gardens

Located in the Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, Alabama, the Noccalula Falls Botanical Gardens is a 65 acre garden that runs along the Black Creek River. The land was once owned by R. A. Mitchell.  He gave the site to the city so it could be improved and the falls could be enjoyed by the public.  The main feature is a 90-foot waterfall.  There are also caves, a pioneer homestead, a petting zoo, Civil War carvings, and plenty of trails for those who like to hike.

The gardens are open from dawn to dusk.  Admission is free.

Dunaway Garden

Dunaway Garden is a lovely little jewel located about thirty miles south of Atlanta, Georgia, near the historic town of Roscoe.  Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it was established in 1934 by famous stage actress, Hetty Jane Dunaway, as a theatrical training ground. Visitors can still see the old amphitheater where live performances were staged. 

Today, the garden is a popular place for weddings.  If you visit, be sure to see the Old Wedding Tree, which I'm sure has seen countless couples married under its sprawling branches!

Other features to visit are the Hanging Gardens and the Great Pool.

The garden is open on Friday and Saturday from  10:00 - 4:00 PM and Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 PM.  Admission is $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for children.

Founders Memorial Garden

The Founders Memorial Garden, located in Athens, Georgia on the campus of the University of Georgia, is a 2 1/2 acre garden that memorializes America's first garden club - The Ladies Garden Club of Athens - which was founded in 1891.  It was begun in 1936 by the Garden Club of Georgia, and was completed in 1946.

It includes an arboretum, formal boxwood garden, a perennial garden, and two courtyards.

 The garden is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Admission is free.

Mobile Botanical Gardens

The Mobile Botanical Gardens are located in Mobile, Alabama.  They were founded in 1974 and cover over 100 acres.  They include a beautiful Rhododendron Garden, a Fern Glade, Fragrance and Texture garden, Japanese Maple Garden, and Herb garden.  There's also a 40 acre long-needle pine forest with walking trails, perfect for an afternoon hike.

Admission is $5.00 for adults.  Children 12 and under are free.  The gardens are open daily from dawn to dusk.

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens

The Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens is located about ten miles southwest of downtown Savannah, Georgia. It's a fifty acre garden which is part of the University of Georgia.

The garden's collections began in 1890 when Mrs. H. B. Miller planted three huge Japanese timber bamboo plants. They had become a substantial grove in 1915, which got the attention of botanist, David Fairchild. His friend, Barbour Lathrop, purchased the site and added to the collection. In 1983 it was deeded to the University of Georgia and is part of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Today the garden has over 100 kinds of bamboo, making it the largest collection open to the public in North America.

While the gardens are noted for the remarkable bamboo collection (and bamboo maze), there are plenty of other flowers here.  There's a Mediterranean garden, a water garden which showcases a nine-foot waterfall, an orchid greenhouse, and a cottage garden with a white gazebo which is a popular site for weddings.

The gardens are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 - 5:00, and Sunday from 12:00 - 5:00.  Admission is free.